close
The Things You Kiss Goodbye Audiobook, by Leslie Connor Play Audiobook Sample

The Things You Kiss Goodbye Audiobook

The Things You Kiss Goodbye Audiobook, by Leslie Connor Play Audiobook Sample
FlexPass™ Price: $16.95
$9.95 for new members!
(Includes UNLIMITED podcast listening)
  • Love your audiobook or we'll exchange it
  • No credits to manage, just big savings
  • Unlimited podcast listening
Add to Cart
$9.95/m - cancel anytime - 
learn more
OR
Regular Price: $21.99 Add to Cart
Read By: Lauren Fortgang Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 5.67 hours at 1.5x Speed 4.25 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: June 2014 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9780062362902

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

58

Longest Chapter Length:

20:16 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

48 seconds

Average Chapter Length:

08:47 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

5

Other Audiobooks Written by Leslie Connor: > View All...

Publisher Description

Fans of Sarah Dessen will love this heartbreaking story about family, loss, and the joys and disappointments of first love.

Bettina Vasilis can hardly believe it when star basketball player Brady Cullen convinces her strict father to let them date. That summer, Bettina falls in love with Brady and the freedom that comes along with him. But when school starts up again, Brady unexpectedly changes for the worse. Unable to give up on her first love just yet, she finds herself trapped in an abusive relationship.

Then she meets ""Cowboy,"" a smoldering older guy and the last guy her father would approve. Yet he is everything Brady is not—gentle, caring, and interested in getting to know the real Bettina. When tragedy strikes, Bettina must tell her family the truth—and kiss goodbye the things she thought she knew about herself and the men in her life.

Download and start listening now!

“This is a significant book that deserves a wide readership. I love the way Connor shows the very small steps that lead to love, but what makes this an exceptionally fine read is our growing awareness that these very same steps also lead to a much darker places. Bettina learns that love is not simple—not for her, not for her family, and not even for the star high school basketball player that everyone loves.”

— Ed Spicer, librarian

Quotes

  • “Charmingly written, Connor’s book delves deep into the minds of its characters: the abused heroine, the abusive boyfriend, her overprotective Greek parents, and the game-changing new guy.”

    — RT Book Reviews (4 stars)
  • “A shy, overprotected girl is the focus of this character study of a victim of physical abuse…The book’s examination of abusive relationships is cleareyed and instructive. Romance fans who happen upon this will find an absorbing portrait of abuse and recovery.”

    — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
  • “Beautifully capturing the intensity of first love, Connor draws readers into a world filled with Greek culture and punctuated by upsetting moments of abuse.”

    — Publishers Weekly
  • “Compulsively readable…satisfying.”

    — School Library Journal
  • “With compassion and respect, author Connor explores the ways in which loving relationships can get twisted into cycles of misery.”

    — Booklist
  • “A girl who can’t find her way out of an abusive relationship finds herself longing for an impossible one. Unforgettable with moments I wanted to reach in and hug sweet Bettina. An unforgettable book every girl should read. ”

    — Jen Bigheart, outreach supervisor, Westbank Community Libraries
  • “Watching Bettina push against the boundaries of her strict home life to venture into relationships is like watching a lengthening crack in your windshield. You know that it won’t end well, but you want to see how far it goes. This book is definitely worth the heartbreak.”

    — Collette Morgan, owner of Wild Rumpus Books for Young Readers

Awards

  • Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award

The Things You Kiss Goodbye Listener Reviews

Be the first to write a review about this audiobook!

About Lauren Fortgang

Lauren Fortgang, a graduate of Fordham University’s Theater Program, is an actress, costume designer, and narrator. She has recorded everything from video games to textbooks. Her audiobook narrations have earned AudioFile Earphones Awards and placed her as a finalist for an Audie Award in 2014.